Home11 November 2025
Recipients of the Marsden Fund for 2025, (top row) Dr Nils Birkholz, Dr Hanareia Ehau-Taumaunu, (bottom row) Professor Jason Tylianakis, Distinguished Professor Philip Hulme and Professor Peter Fineran.
Five researchers from across the Bioprotection Aotearoa network have been awarded Marsden Fund grants in the latest funding round, collectively securing more than $3.4 million to advance research that strengthens Aotearoa New Zealand’s environmental and biological resilience.
This year’s recipients reflect the depth and diversity of expertise within the Bioprotection Aotearoa community from predicting the next invasive weed to decoding the microbiomes and molecular systems that shape plant and microbial resilience.
Bioprotection Aotearoa is especially proud to see two early career researchers, Dr Hanareia Ehau-Taumaunu and Dr Nils Birkholz, leading projects of national significance. Their success is a testament to the next generation of science leaders advancing bioprotection research in Aotearoa.
Building resilience through microbiomes
Dr Hanareia Ehau-Taumaunu (Plant & Food Research Group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute) will investigate how the unique microbiomes of Aotearoa’s native plants can be harnessed to build stronger, more resilient crops. This project could transform how we think about agricultural resilience by applying lessons from nature to cultivated systems.
Adapting through DNA exchange
Dr Nilz Birkholz (University of Otago) will lead a project examining how bacteria take up foreign DNA and adapt to it, a fundamental process that could reshape how we understand microbial evolution and gene control.
Understanding pest and pathogen dynamics
Professor Jason Tylianakis (University of Canterbury) will explore whether crop pests and pathogens find safety in numbers, a question with major implications for how we manage outbreaks and protect our food systems.
Predicting the next invasive weed
Distinguished Professor Philip Hulme (Lincoln University) will lead a project using online sales data to predict new invasive weeds in Aotearoa. By analysing what plants are being bought and sold, the research aims to identify potential invaders before they spread, offering a new data-driven approach to biosecurity.
Exploring microbial defences
Professor Peter Fineran (University of Otago) will study how bacteria defend themselves from jumbo phages, a discovery area that could help optimise future phage-based antimicrobials against harmful bacterial pathogens.
“E poho kererū ana au i a koutou. I am so proud of you all, for this achievment and continuing to push the boundaries of bioprotection.” Professor Amanda Black